Leaping sturgeon knocks boater unconscious on Florida river

CHIEFLAND, Fla. – Wildlife officials say a Florida man was knocked unconscious by a sturgeon that leapt into his boat on the Suwannee River during a fishing tournament.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release that 62-year-old Ronald Dick and his son were traveling about 30 mph when the 4- to 5-foot fish jumped into the boat Saturday afternoon. The release says Dick’s injuries were not considered life-threatening and that he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Wildlife spokesman Andy Krause says boaters need to be aware that large fish are found in the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers and they sometimes leap into boats.

He says it’s the first sturgeon incident in 2016. Last year, sturgeon strikes killed one person and injured eight in Florida.